Cablegate: Four Dead, Two Helicopters Lost in Colombian

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS BOGOTA 006598

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP

E.O. 12358: N/A
TAGS: SNAR MOPS MASS CO
SUBJECT: Four Dead, Two Helicopters Lost in Colombian
Military Operations

1. (SBU) Summary: Colombian Military forces lost four dead
and two helicopters within a span of 48 hours. On July 8, a
Plan Colombia-provided UH1-HII (Huey II) operated by the
Colombian Army crashed as a result of hostile fire,
resulting in four fatalities, including one Colombian
national employed by a U.S. contractor. On July 10, a
Colombian Air Force UH-60 helicopter made a hard landing and
suffered severe damage. There were no casualties reported
as a result of this incident. Both events are under
investigation. End summary.

2. (SBU) On July 8, a Colombian Army UH1-HII helicopter that
was part of a multi-ship gun support mission in Arauca
Department (north east Colombia) came under enemy fire. The
aircraft reportedly received multiple impacts and then
proceeded to return to its base at Saravena, Arauca
Department. When approximately 5.3 miles from Saravena (N
06 52.06, W 071 49.16), the aircraft radioed that it was
experiencing a major malfunction and thereafter reported
that the aircraft was going down. An accompanying aircraft
observed the aircraft make a hard landing, spin about, and
the tail section separate from the fuselage.

3. (SBU) A rescue helicopter was immediately launched from
Saravena. The rescue aircraft arrived at the scene,
determined that three of the four crewmembers had perished,
and transported the one surviving crewmember to Saravena.
This crewmember subsequently died. One of the casualties
was a Colombian national employed by a U.S. contractor.
Remains of the crewmembers and the wreckage were recovered
on July 9 and an investigation is underway.

4. (SBU) On July 10, a Colombian Air Force UH-60 Gunship
(Arpia) assigned to Combat Command 5 (Rio Negro) was
performing night operations near Bahi, Antioquia Department.
The aircraft encountered weather and attempted an instrument
landing at an airfield in Carepa but was unable to land.
The aircraft subsequently attempted a landing at what
appeared to be a soccer field or other open area but the
main rotor struck an object, possibly a wire, and went down
hard. There were no fatalities. The CACOM 5 Commander
reports that the aircraft suffered "50 percent damage." An
investigation is underway and the aircraft is being
disassembled and trucked to an airfield where it will be
loaded on to a C-130 for transport to Rio Negro. We expect
that the helicopter will be inoperable for a long time
before it can be returned to service, if ever.

WOOD

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